Rolling Stone slammed for 'Boston Bomber' cover

Rolling Stone magazine has been accused of glamorising terrorism by featuring Boston bombing suspect Jahar Tsarnaev on the cover of its latest issue.

The 19-year-old and his late brother Tamerlan are accused of killing three people in the April 15 attack which left dozens more injured.

Rolling Stone says the cover story presents "a riveting and heartbreaking account of how a charming kid with a bright future became a monster".

The magazine's two-month investigation found that Tamerlan once confided to his mother that he felt like "two people" were inside him.

"She confided this to a close friend who felt he might need a psychiatrist, but [his mother] believed that religion would be the cure for her son's inner demons and growing mental instability, and pushed him deeper into Islam," Rolling Stone claims.

But the rock institution has been slammed on social media for handing Tsarnaev its coveted cover spot.

Boston punk band Dropkick Murphys, who recently donated $300,000 to 60 victims of the April bombings, were among those to take aim at the magazine on Twitter today.

"Rolling Stone you should be ashamed," the band tweeted.

"How about one of the courageous victims on your cover instead of this loser scum bag!"

The magazine's Facebook page has also been overwhelmed with negative comments with over 3500 posts debating the cover.

"How f---ing dare you put a mass murderer on the cover of your magazine like making bombs in a pressure cooker and plant them in a public place to harm thousands of people is a 'rock star' thing to do. Never again will I ever buy a copy of Rolling Stones," wrote one user.

With his tussled curls and a washed-out Instagram look, the image of Tsarnaev has been compared to Jim Morrison.

Jahar, who could face the death penalty if convicted, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges in his first courtroom appearance earlier this week.